Slum Settlements
zahra shahihagh; Minoo Gharehbaglou; Hamed Beyti
Abstract
Highlights- Any factor that makes residential spaces liveable, also increases the capabilities of its residents.- The most important and influential dimension in the direction of empowering the residents is the components of the perceptual-meaning dimension of livability (sense of belonging, security, ...
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Highlights- Any factor that makes residential spaces liveable, also increases the capabilities of its residents.- The most important and influential dimension in the direction of empowering the residents is the components of the perceptual-meaning dimension of livability (sense of belonging, security, religious beliefs and way of life).- In terms of economic empowerment, the material criteria of livability have the greatest impact; Also, the functional-activity criteria of livability, two dimensions of economic and social empowerment, and the perceptual-meaning criteria of livability mostly affect the psychological capability of the residents.- The northern area among other marginal areas of Tabriz city, due to the lowest level of livability, has the lowest level of realization of empowerment components, which should be given special attention.
Introduction
Informal settlements, as a prominent manifestation of urban poverty, are typically formed within or adjacent to cities. These settlements often lack building permits and official urban development plans. The primary reason for their formation is the inability of people to secure housing in the formal market, compelling them to seek shelter through informal means. This leads to numerous problems. Consequently, various approaches have been proposed globally, particularly in third-world countries, to address the issue of informal settlements.
In contemporary discourse, empowerment is considered the most effective strategy. It aims to enhance the capabilities and improve the living standards of residents while upholding the principles of human dignity and social justice. However, neglecting the environmental qualities and the needs of the residents can cause this strategy to fail. Life unfolds within the context of the environment, and livability addresses the connection between housing and human life, along with its needs, by focusing on the quality of the environment in residential spaces.
Theoretical Framework
This research encompasses two key concepts and variables: viability and empowerment. Researchers have identified various dimensions of the concept of empowerment. Some scholars emphasize the psychological aspects of empowerment, considering elements such as the feeling of competence, the sense of being effective, and the perception of freedom of action as core components of empowerment. In contrast, the social dimension of empowerment has been prominently featured in the theories of many empowerment thinkers, including Sara Longwe (1991), Stromquist (1999), Naila Kabeer (2012), and Hoyt Oliver (2020). These theorists highlight awareness, interaction, and social participation as crucial elements of empowerment. Their theories stress the importance of awareness and the power of connections, interactions, and social partnerships in empowering individuals.
Additionally, the presence of elements such as welfare and access (Longwe), income (Sen, 1999), resources and possessions (Kabeer), and economic ability (Stromquist, 1999) among the components related to empowerment underscores the significance of the economic dimension of empowerment. Therefore, the concept of empowerment encompasses three primary dimensions: economic, social, and psychological.
However, the most critical aspect of empowerment is gaining the power to control and master the forces that affect human life. By acquiring certain abilities, individuals can influence the determining factors of their lives. Life is one of the most fundamental aspects of human existence, and attention to it and the quality factors of residential space can enhance the quality of the environment and the satisfaction of residents.
Based on previous studies and in line with the research's purpose and its relationship with the dimensions of empowerment, the components of livability are categorized into three dimensions: material (economic, physical, environmental), functional-activity, and perceptual-meaning (cultural and psychological). The relationship between each of the three dimensions of empowerment and the dimensions of viability was examined.
Methodology
The research method is practical based on its objective. In terms of data collection and analysis, it employs a correlational approach and is founded on the structural equation model. The primary tool for data collection is a questionnaire. The statistical population of the study comprises residents from the following neighborhoods: Seilab in the northern zone, Abuzar in the northwestern zone, Zamzam in the southern zone, and Akhmakiyeh in the southwestern zone.
To determine the sample size, a simple random sampling method was utilized. Initially, a pre-test was conducted as a pilot among 35 residents of the aforementioned neighborhoods, and the Cronbach's alpha value was calculated to be 0.744. For estimating the sample size, the formula proposed by Tabachnick and Fidell (M8 + 50 ≥ N) was applied, resulting in an estimated sample size of 150 individuals.
Results and Discussion
The research findings are divided into four parts:
Structural Model Analysis:
The structural model reveals a positive and significant relationship between the variables of empowerment and viability.
Effective Dimensions in Livability:
The most influential dimension in livability is the perceptual-semantic dimension. Within this dimension, the components of sense of belonging to the place and security are the most effective criteria for the livability of residential spaces. Following these are the components of the functional-activity and material dimensions.
The most impactful dimension for empowering residents is the psychological (cognitive) dimension, where the components of meaningfulness and trust are the most significant criteria for empowerment.
Interrelation of Viability and Empowerment Dimensions:
Each dimension and criterion of viability affects not just one, but all dimensions of empowerment. However, by comparing their factors, it becomes evident that each dimension and criterion of livability in residential spaces has a more pronounced effect on one or two dimensions of empowerment.
Comparative Analysis of Informal Zones in Tabriz City:
The degree of fulfillment of the functional-activity dimension components of livability is consistent across all four informal zones of Tabriz city, with a range of 3.33-3.66. This indicates that in all areas, the access to public transportation, employment services, educational, health, sports, and leisure facilities, as well as the level of participation and sociability of the residents, are similar and face the same challenges.
The differences in the vitality of the zones are attributed to variations in the components of the material and perceptual-semantic dimensions.
The northern zone exhibits the lowest level of empowerment, while the southern zone shows the highest level compared to other zones.
By refining the analysis and focusing on the specific dimensions and criteria, the study provides a comprehensive understanding of how various factors contribute to the livability and empowerment of residents in informal zones. This nuanced approach highlights the importance of addressing both perceptual-semantic and material dimensions to enhance the overall quality of life in these areas.
Conclusion
The research results indicate that any factor enhancing the viability of residential spaces concurrently boosts the empowerment of their residents. The most influential aspect in empowering residents is the perceptual-semantic components of livability. This is because everyone's living environment contains elements that affect their activities, and a person's behavior is influenced not only by their inner needs and motivations but also by their living environment. Ignoring the livability capacities, especially the perceptual-semantic components, in planning and intervention measures will pose serious challenges in improving the quality of life and empowering residents.
Thus, in all marginalized areas, strategies should be adopted to realize and strengthen the sense of belonging, security, and attention to the residents' religious beliefs and way of life for their psychological empowerment, which has the most significant impact on their overall empowerment. Among the marginalized areas of Tabriz city, the northern regions exhibit the lowest level of realization of empowerment components due to the lowest level of viability, necessitating special attention.
Regarding economic empowerment, the material criteria of livability have the greatest impact. Additionally, the functional-activity measures of livability significantly influence two dimensions of empowerment: economic and social empowerment, respectively. The perceptual-semantic criteria predominantly affect the psychological empowerment of the residents.
Urban livability
Aram Khezerlou; Asghar Abedini
Abstract
Highlights
- The highest weight concerned the indicator of building quality, and the lowest pertained to the area covered by sewage.
- The rate of livability is higher in the old part of the city of Urmia, Iran than in the new part.
- The rate of livability is in better conditions in the old part ...
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Highlights
- The highest weight concerned the indicator of building quality, and the lowest pertained to the area covered by sewage.
- The rate of livability is higher in the old part of the city of Urmia, Iran than in the new part.
- The rate of livability is in better conditions in the old part than in the new part based on the indicators of access to the main thoroughfares, average land price, population density, access to sports and recreational use, access to medical use, access to academic and cultural use, access to commercial use, number of literate people, and number of employees.
- The rate of livability in the new part is in good conditions compared to that in the old part based on the indicators of building quality, area covered by sewage, and access to green spaces.
Introduction
The increase in the development of urban population and replacement of concern for quantitative standards by consideration of qualitative approaches has led to a rise in the quality of urban life and urban livability, where the role of officials and urban management is important, along with the need for a comprehensive study of various dimensions in the city. Following the rapid population growth as a result of migration and the unplanned expansion of the city of Urmia, Iran, the capital of West Azerbaijan Province, and the consequent problems, the need for a comprehensive effort to save the city and improve the quality of life therein has been highlighted more than ever. In response to these problems, various theories and approaches have been proposed, one of which is the livable city approach. Given that livability is a complex, multidimensional concept, and its patterns are completely different from one region to another, no comprehensive model has been presented so far of the effects of livability indicators in the old and new parts of cities in the current conditions and the relationships between them. Therefore, this comparative study was intended to investigate the extent of livability in the old and new parts of Urmia based on the relevant indicators.
Theoretical Framework
Livability is defined as the quality of life experienced by the inhabitants of a city or region. Kennedy and Bai believe that the concept of livability is defined by terms such as the well-being of the society, and represents the characteristics that turn a place into one where people always want to live.
Methodology
In this descriptive-analytical applied research, data collection was conducted through library studies, available articles, field studies, and census information released in 2016 by the Statistical Center of Iran. Thus, after the resources relevant to livability were studied, twelve indicators were selected from among various effective factors to obtain the research output, given the availability of data on Urmia. These indicators include access to medical use, access to commercial use, access to sports and recreational use, access to green space use, quality of buildings, area covered by sewage, access to academic and cultural use, number of literate people, population density, average land price, number of employees, and access to the main thoroughfares. Given that each of the indicators effective in specification of livability has a different coefficient of importance (weight), the opinions of the elite were used in this article to determine the weights of the indicators. To weigh the indicators according to the BWM method, thirty questionnaires were developed with contents based on their pairwise comparison in terms of the preference of the best indicator over the others and the preference of the other indicators over the worst. In the next step, the questionnaire data were entered into the GAMS software and calculated and analyzed. A weight of 0.081 was calculated with the value of lε obtained for the thirty questionnaires, which indicates the stability and consistency of the calculated weights due to its proximity to zero. For a spatial analysis, the information layers of the indicators were first digitized and edited in the GIS software, and the significance coefficient calculated by the BWM method was multiplied by each of the indicators through conversion of the information layers into a raster and their classification. Using the weighted sum, the indicators were then combined for measurement of livability in the old and new parts of Urmia.
Results and Discussion
The calculations of the weights of the twelve indicators in the Gomez software indicates that the highest weight concerns the average land price indicator, with a significance coefficient of 0.169, and the lowest weight pertains to the area covered by sewage, with 0.015. The average value of λε obtained for the thirty questionnaires was 0.081, which indicates the stability and consistency of the calculated weights due to its proximity to zero.
Conclusion
The results of combining the twelve livability indicators for the old part of Urmia show that 2% of this part lies in the zone with very low livability, 13% in low livability, 32% in medium livability, 35% in high livability, and 18% is in very high livability. In the new part of Urmia, 7% lie in the zone with very low livability, 21% in low livability, 39% in medium livability, 29% in high livability, and 4% in very high livability. Furthermore, livability is better in the old part than in the new part based on the indicators of access to the main thoroughfares, average land price, population density, access to sports and recreational use, access to medical use, access to academic and cultural use, access to commercial use, number of literate people, and number of employees. On the other hand, livability in the new part is in good conditions compared to that in the old part based on the indicators of building quality, area covered by sewage, and access to green space use.
